Cuban pitcher wooed

A's

Published 4:00 am, Wednesday, December 30, 2009

With the A's poised to add their two-time All-Star back into the fold this morning, the team is now turning its attention to Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman.

Oakland is in the thick of the bidding for the left-hander, according to major-league sources, and there is no reason to think the A's can't lure Chapman away from some of the big-money teams, the way they did with Dominican phenom Michael Ynoa two years ago. Oakland paid Ynoa a record-setting $4.25 million bonus, beating out the Yankees, among others.

Assistant general manager David Forst and two other members of the front office recently saw Chapman throw a side session in Houston, and the delegation came away impressed. Chapman's fastball has topped 100 mph.

The money looks to have gone up, as well. Chapman could be looking for something close to $20 million. His former representatives fielded at least one offer in the $15 million range, and the Marlins are believed to have made a $13 million bid recently.

Chapman has incentive to sign by midnight Thursday - his bonus would be taxed if he signs in 2010 instead of 2009.

Justin Duchscherer had a physical late Tuesday afternoon in Phoenix, and the A's are planning to officially announce his one-year deal this morning. The contract is worth $2 million in guaranteed salary, but could go up to $5.5 million with incentives.

Like the Giants, the A's have expressed interest in free-agent third baseman Adrian Beltre, but the talks have not progressed much beyond the initial stages.